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Council advances ordinance to exempt some vehicle owners from tow fees, requires 48-hour notice
Summary
The council advanced an ordinance to exempt people whose vehicles were towed while uninvolved in investigations from paying tow fees, require hotels and owners be notified within 48 hours and provide 15-day status updates while vehicles remain as evidence; the exemption excludes owners involved in the investigation.
The Newark City Council advanced on first reading an ordinance that would exempt vehicle owners from paying tow or release fees when their cars were impounded while not involved in a criminal investigation, and require the city to notify owners within 48 hours and provide ongoing status updates.
Kenya Store, the city's corporation counsel, told the council the amendment “exempts them from paying as well. It also makes the requirement that we notify them within 48 hours of what's going on with the car.” Store added the ordinance requires a 15-day status update when a vehicle remains under investigation.
Speakers emphasized the exemption is limited. Council members and counsel clarified the protection applies to victims and uninvolved owners, not to people whose vehicles are impounded because they are subjects of an investigation. As one council member put it, owners “don't get that same treatment” if they are involved in the investigation.
Council members pressed staff about coordination with county and state prosecutors where vehicles become evidence. The administration said public safety staff will work with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the attorney general's office to ensure notification and release procedures are consistent when evidence is transferred to another jurisdiction.
The ordinance also adds a notice requirement describing where an impounded vehicle is held and mandates periodic communication to owners while an investigation is active. Council members said the change responds to constituent complaints about long tow-hold times and lack of notice.
Procedural action: sponsors moved to advance and adopt on first reading; the motion carried with sponsorship by Councilman Council and second by Councilwoman Scott Roundry. Vote tallies were not specified in the transcript.
The council did not adopt final language in the chamber; staff requested any drafting tweaks be submitted before final adoption and said they would circulate an amendment to include the precise location-notification language.
